If you dont' think gas prices are going to effect everything from event attendance to food and registrations costs. Well, think again. I just filled my tank and got 3 gallons extra for the lawn mower. $95.00. And that was with a 10 cents off a gallon premium. Milk's more than gas per gallon now. Flour is short in the northeast, bread prices are rising to over double what they were last year at this time. Brace yourself. I don't think the summer vacation season is gonna' be pretty.

Grumpy,

I hear ya, and I highly suspect both trips to Missouri are out of the picture for me this year. I like Athens and would no doubt enjoy Marmaduke's Raid (and the chance to work with Don Cope again), but when I start converting gallons to linear feet of fencing, well, the jig is up.

That being said, I'm going to enjoy the Death March X site visit in New Albany, PA, this Sunday. It should be a fine time, and without you on the land, I doubt it will rain much.  

Our last kid graduated from college last night.  She was happy but I will doubly assure you mom and pop were much happier.  That was the blessed end of a long, long nine year run of us paying tuition for our chillun.  That noise you heard about 9:00 last night was the Makamson tuition wallet slamming for ever more shut.  The college graduation trip will be taken immediately while we can still afford a little gas.  We are afraid to wait until the end of the summer.  

Some of the people in our mainstream unit are openly talking about a 200 mile radius they are willing to travel.  That is the extreme distance.  Others claim they will not go that far.  We will see how it plays out.  I filled up yesterday at $3.61 and that was within sight of the third largest refinery in the realm.  You know that ain’t right.

Grumpy, Are you the perpetual boo bird? The sad thing is, I think you're right. I know a lot of us in the Upper Midwest have been re-thinking some events. There will be a lot of car pooling in the near future.

I'm not giving up my Tundra just yet, but the "scooter" and a Hy-bred are in the cards this year. I wish I still had my Geo Metro. For those of you that don't know me, think "Bubba" Smith in "Police Academy"

Looking back, it wasn't so bad when gas was at $2 per gallon (yeah, it was) but the current prices are beyond ridiculous. With that, I'm going to start drilling for oil in my back yard. The pump and other equipment may take up a lotta room, but one has to do what one has to do. Who knows, I could stike it rich. There's a song about a guy who did that:

Ballad Of Jed Clampett
 
Come and listen to a story 'bout a man named Jed
Poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed
Then one day he was shooting for some food,
And up through the ground come a bubbling crude
(Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea)

Well the first thing you know old Jed's a millionaire
Kin folk said Jed move away from there
Said California is the place you oughta be
So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly
(Hills that is, swimming pools, movie stars)

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and they moved to Beverly (Hills that is

DUH!!! After watching that show off an on for over 40 years, I just got it! Boy do I feel stupid.

Mister Beasley, Mister Beasley.....

Metro "Squishy" Rob,

Other than the obvious EPA clampdown a few years ago, my guess is darn few paving contractors are washing asphalt from dumptruck beds with gallons and gallons diesel fuel anymore. I did a doubletake at the $4.23 per gallon price this morning. Maybe I need to borrow Petey's freshly rebuilt buckboard for those runs into Jefferson and Middletown, although the latter may object to a certain variety of equine "paving" material deposited on the go, if you get my meaning.

Well, dang, I should have been on the road 2 hours ago, but such is life.

(Rob, I hope you enjoyed the pig pix on the AC Forum last night.)

Chawls,

I just about blew snot when I saw them! I've been chuckling most of the day.

I have finally gotten my big ol Dodge Ram extra cab long bed with a Cummings Diesel out of the body shop.  

I am figuring to have in my driveway the best and brightest chrome and green storage shed in four counties.  

Curtis, I will drive it to Tannehill, but only on the hopes that I can get a good price for it as scrap iron for the furnance.......

Why did Chawls have to show how cute those little pigs were?  I was lookin forward to that salt pork.  Come to think of it, I still am.

Weve put a few things aside because of gas... a school day presentation, Memorial day parades... who knows what else.

Also what about the Cavalry and Artillery Fellows pulling the trailers and all....could be some small attended events this year.

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Spinster wrote : Why did Chawls have to show how cute those little pigs were?  I was lookin forward to that salt pork.  Come to think of it, I still am.

Terre,

Those piggies have a story behind them. Ask Terri the next time you see her.

Sure wish you were coming to Crittenden's Farm (DM X) this year, as we have more houses than civilians.

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Marc wrote : Also what about the Cavalry and Artillery Fellows pulling the trailers and all....could be some small attended events this year.

Marc,

Cavalry participation was down at Neshaminy this year. I had a couple of regular attendees call and tell me fuel costs were the reason they weren't coming.

My home unit voted to attend only one event in Virginia this season. Again, fuel costs were the big factor.

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Bill wrote :  My home unit voted to attend only one event in Virginia this season. Again, fuel costs were the big factor.

Bill,

What a timely sentiment. At our annual meeting this weekend, I'm strongly suggesting we trim the seven remaining events on the calendar down to three, where we can best enjoy the fruits of our own labors. While it remains to be seen as to whether or not this is the best way to go, it is at least going to provide some relief, and give the lads a way to focus on three select events.

Between the gas prices and the economy, the hobby is being encouraged to do something we've been unable to do for a long time. Scary, isn't it?  

You are right on the cavalry front, it is getting very expensive!  Besides the cost to haul, the prices for grain are going up.  Thanks ethanol!  Even for in state events we are trying to make sure that we consolidate to maximize the number of horses in the trailers.  Hauling for Gettysburg is going to cost a fortune to come from Texas.  We have our schedule set for this year.  Some have dropped out from some events due to costs.  Next year looks to be lean if costs do not come down.

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Barry Smithson wrote :   Besides the cost to haul, the prices for grain are going up.

Barry,

Not to mention the cost of hay and straw. At Neshaminy, we supply every horse two bales of hay, free of charge, as well as a $20.00 bounty for each horse registered. Cavalry gets expensive for event organizers too.

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Bill wrote :   Not to mention the cost of hay and straw. At Neshaminy, we supply every horse two bales of hay, free of charge, as well as a $20.00 bounty for each horse registered. Cavalry gets expensive for event organizers too.

By the time the Oil boys and the Saudi's get through with us, we'll be eating hay.

Gasoline was over $4 per gallon in the Buffalo NY metro area this morning, and I thought I saw diesel at $4.79 in one out of the way location.

Every single time I see the Amish I can't help but think they may be chuckling right hard these days. Of course, when they fuel up their generators and other power units....